Chelsea chase intriguing £10m defender deal while £60m Spurs star becomes shock Saudi target

Chelsea are preparing for a changing of the guard at left-back next season, with Ian Maatsen and Marc Cucurella both expecting to head out of the door – or possibly be pushed, in the Spaniard’s case – and their shortlist has a rather surprising name on it, according to 90min. Wolverhampton Wanderer’s Rayan Aït-Nouri could well be on his way to Stamford Bridge.

The £10m Algerian defender was close to leaving the club this summer and nearly joined French outfit OGC Nice, but that fell through and he has enjoyed something of a resurgence under Gary O’Neil. He isn’t the only player in the running, though – young Argentinian prospect Valentín Barco is also a possibility, as is Bayern Munich’s Alphonso Davies.

The latter looks ambitious, with Real Madrid believed to be a very likely destination for the Canadian next summer, but either of the other two would be very interesting signings for Maurico Pochettino.

The 3AM Verdict: Aït-Nouri may not be the first name that leaps to mind when you think about the Premier League’s best left-backs, but he’s been in fine form and is statistically excellent both as a defender and a final third – but Barco is one of the most-hyped defensive talents in South America, and Davies, if a deal could be made, is simply world-class. Aït-Nouri seems a little bit more realistic, though…

Richarlison ready for Saudi switch

A new report from Brazilian outlet UOL bears the startling news that Tottenham Hotspur forward Richarlison could well be on his way to Saudi Arabia – with the Pro League looking to make the Brazil international their next big-money, big-name signing. It also sounds as though the former Everton man might be quite keen.

The report says that Richarlison is “not that tied” to Spurs, citing his being benched in big games, while noting that he would be more “more than willing” to negotiate a move to the Middle East. He did miss out on the starting eleven against Arsenal, granted, but leaving the club over it does seem a bit extreme…

The 3AM Verdict: If Richarlison becomes the latest player to be tempted by a big briefcase filled with oil money, one suspects that Spurs won’t stand in his way. He simply hasn’t found his form since arriving for £60m, and Ange Postecoglou might feel that he could buy someone better in his stead…

Brighton stalwart on his way to Germany?

32-year-old Pascal Groß has been one of Brighton & Hove Albion’s most important players over the course of their rise up the Premier League ranks, but after six seasons on the south coast the German international midfielder might be on his way out – at least according to Fabrizio Romano, via Caught Offside.

Eintracht Frankfurt are keen to sign the veteran, whose current contract runs until 2025, although a move is more likely to happen in the summer, with Romano saying that Frankfurt “know nothing will happen in January” but also noting that he is a “dream target for June.” The Italian transfer addict does also note that there aren’t any issues between Groß and his current employers, and may not be in any rush to depart the Amex.

The 3AM Verdict: Many players may be getting past their prime at 32 but Groß is ageing very well so far, and earned the first of four Germany caps in August this year – so if Brighton don’t see a drop in his standards over the rest of the season, there seems little reason to move him on already. Frankfurt are also unlikely to be able to find the money to make an offer that Roberto de Zerbi can’t refuse, so we’re suggesting that the Germans might be being over-ambitious, for now at least.